California’s Iconic Tunnel Tree Toppled by Storm

The famous Pioneer Cabin Tree collapsed during California’s powerful storms this past weekend.

During the powerful winter storms that slammed the state of California, an iconic giant sequoia tree in California’s Sierra Nevada was toppled Sunday.

The tree, famous for being hollowed out for cars to drive through, was estimated to have been over 1,000 years old and stood in Calaveras County. It was a popular attraction at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where it was known by many as the “tunnel tree.”

Calaveras Big Trees Association broke the news in a Facebook post stating, “This iconic and still living tree — the tunnel tree — enchanted many visitors. The storm was just too much for it.”

The Pioneer Cabin Tree’s trunk was hollowed out in the 1880s to compete with similar trees in Yosemite National Park. At first, only hikers passed through the Pioneer Cabin Tree, until cars were invented.